Canadian Film Digest (Oct 1971)

WARNER BROS. PROUDLY PRESENTS THEIR

IISc: PICTURE

To market, to market

then split up the money and do it again:

James Garner
Skin Game

Lou Gossett-Susan Clar k Brenda Sykes: Edward Asner -Andrew Duggan

Execute prodcer Scowurghay by Bed on a Story by Prod.crd by Oructed by Me
Meta Rosenberg - Pierre Marton - Richard Alan Simmons - Harry Keller - Paul Bogart - David Shire - & Orsotre Proacton + Panvsor + Technooio”
From Warner Bros, A Kinney Lessure Service [GP] ..s1se2 2 9

THERE IS A NEW ERA AT WARNER BROS.!

Our Business »watybr

There is no story in the motion
picture business to parallel that of the
four Warner brothers who rose from
obscurity to position of great status.
Without their presence, the motion
picture business throughout the entire
world, might have taken a different
course. In a manner of speaking, their
presence and actions, at a certain
period, created a watershed.

There is now only one of the four
Warner brothers alive and at an age
when most men seek to relax on the
golf course or take comfort at the
fireside, he chooses to become in-
volved in more feature film produc-
tion. However, that is, in itself, an-
other story.

Jack Warner, the sole survivor of
the clan, sold contro! of Warner Bros.
to Seven Arts in 1967, and in turn,
they re-sold to Kinney National Ser-
vice in 1969. Production, so long
headed by Jack Warner, has now been
taken over by Ted Ashley, a man
excellently equipped by knowledge
and experience to handle such an
onerous task. Thus, the torch has been
passed on and now, in the fall of 1971,
we take note that Warner Bros. is
releasing its 1500th feature film.

The mere concept of such an
enormous number of feature films
boggles the mind and imagination. If
they were to average 10,000 feet per,
this would make a total of 15,000,000
feet and it seems that one would never
be able to sit through this much foot-
age. However, footage is not what
counts—it is content.

Looking backward, we think we
can say, with certainty, that we have
viewed the majority of these 1500
features. Nostalgia swells within us as

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

SALUTE TO A FILM
PHENOMENA

we recall some of them. Like the films
produced by every other major dis-
tributing company, over the decades,
there were proportions of excellent,
good, bad and indifferent. However,
because of personality, there was bet-
ter continuity and a steadier hand at
the helm of Warner Bros. over the
years, than most other production
companies.

Motion picture theatre owners and
Operators are always concerned about
a sufficient and continuing source of
supply of good box-office attractions.
It was natural, therefore, when the
new regime took control, that there
should be considerable apprehension
about the “new broom”. Time has
now cleared the atmosphere and we
can now see the company the way it
really is.

There is a time to reminisce and
there is a place for nostalgia in our
lives. Sometimes this is important
because it helps us to see the present
more clearly. As we look back, we
should recognize that if the Warner
brothers had not embraced sound and
talking pictures at the time they did,
its coming could have been long de-
layed. There is general acceptance of
the fact that the smash hit made by
“THE JAZZ SINGER” was the spark
which ignited the explosion into the
entire entertainment world of sound.
But shortly after came the depression
which now only the “older folk”
remember. When that period arrived, it
was doubtful that anyone would have
undertaken so revolutionary and
costly an experiment. After that came
the second world war. Thus, it is dif-
ficult to really be sure when “talking
pictures’’ might have become part of
the motion picture theatre scene.

Now we must look to the future. It
is a good sign and enormously en-
couraging to know that a company
like Warner Bros., which was at a low

ebb last year, today is a star in the
ascendant. This becomes increasingly
evident as hits of lesser or greater
scope roll into release. It indicates that
Ted Ashley and the group with which
he has surrounded himself, must be
endowed with imagination and have
the knowledge and ability for excel-
lent decisions. This merits the atten-
tion and admiration of all exhibitors.

However, this is not necessarily suf-
ficient to gladden the heart of the
average theatre owner. His constant
concern is his ability to do business,
on an equitable basis, with any and all
distributing companies. Thus, we must
look to the people in the “front line’,
with whom the exhibitor must deal.

As we salute Warner Bros. for their
1500th feature, we must also salute
the vice-president and general sales
manager, Leo Greenfield. He is a man
of great and varied experience in the
selling of motion pictures—tough
enough to be respected and fair
enough to trade with. And right be-
hind him is Larry Lashansky, another
experienced film executive who com-
mands respect in his own right.

Closer to home, there is new blood
in the top seat in Canada. Haskell
Masters was for so many years the
“chief’’ of Warner Bros. in Canada,
that his name became synonymous
with it and one came to feel that he
would be there forever. But time miti-
gates against this, and it was with great
and general regret that he retired—but
leaving a trail of goodwill sprinkled
with sentiment. His successor, Irving
Stern, is a man literally born into the
motion picture business. We remember
his late father, Max Stern, very well—
he was a Toronto motion picture ex-
hibitor for many, many years. One
may say that Irving learned his ABC’s
at his father’s knees. Yet, his years of
experience are enhanced by what has
been passed on to him, as a mentor, by
his predecessor.

Thus, we record the event of the
1500th feature film from Warner Bros.
as a production and distributing com-
pany and at the same time, the renais-
sance of such company under new and
exciting leadership. The indications are
that Warner Bros. will increase the
number of their releases and at the
same time shoot for maximum box-
office draw—a combination which
should bring joy to the hearts of thea-
tre owners everywhere.

Now Playing — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

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Jack Lemmon directs.
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Walter Matthau ina role only he
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from the opening scene.

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SUITABLE FOR PRE.TEENACERS

RELEASED IN CANADA THROUGH —

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IN THIS ISSUE

Salute to Warner Bros.

N. A. Taylor—Our Business
The Story of WOMPI
People in the News

New Theatres

The Production Scene
International News

Canadian Film Awards

EDITOR
DAN KRENDEL

Asst. Editor
HARRIET BERNSTEIN

Published Monthly
by
Film Publications of Canada Ltd.
175 Bloor St. E.
Toronto 285, Ont.
Telephone 924-3701

Second Class Mail

Registration No. 2587
Postage Paid in Oshawa

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

iqe S C A MONTHLY COMMENTARY ON THE CANADIAN MOTION PICTURE SCENE

Encompassing the CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST, founded in 1915, and
the CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY founded in 1941.

A SALUTE
TO
WOM PI

The Women of the Motion Picture Industry, familiarly and
affectionately known as WOMPI are truly the Florence Nightingales
of the Industry, spreading their good deeds and charitable work
quietly and unobtrusively across the continent, and indeed, making
their presence felt even in Europe.

They area group of women fervently dedicated to the principle of
helping those less fortunate than themselves, and this they have been
doing selflessly, without ballyhoo or fanfare since 1954. They do
this in the full knowledge that their only reward is a smile, a ‘thank
you’ note, the personal satisfaction of knowing that they have given
a little of themselves to spread a little joy in these trying times.

It is not a large organization, numerically, some 800 members in
the U.S. and Canada certainly not in competition with Variety or the
Picture Pioneers, but in their own way they have made themselves an
indispensible part of the Industry they love and serve so well.

Many a senior citizen, a crippled child, an abandoned orphan,
have reason to give thanks and offer a little prayer for these
wonderful Angels of Mercy whose credo is simply ‘Love thy
Neighbour’. This they do, and by so doing have earned the respect
and gratitude of all of us in this great business.

Just as ‘Great Oaks From Little Acorns Grow’, so, we trust, will
WOMPI continue to expand, both in terms of numbers and in the
perpetuation of their principles translated into practical achieve-
ments.

They are most deserving of the support of every member of our
Industry, and on that note we again salute our Wonderful WOMPI,
and hope that they will continue to grow and flourish in the years to
come.

fou. |

EDITOR

Qa

PPT
CONGRATULATIONS

WARNER BROTHERS

ON THE RELEASE OF:

RELEASE NUMBER 2 1500

CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALBERTAS
FINEST CINEMAS:

EDMONTON MP | EDMONTON
156th St.and Stony Pin Rd.
Phone 489-1455

TOWNE
ST. ALBERT

Be
DRIVE-IN

North on St. Albert Trail Ph. 599-6833

THE RELEASE OF WARNER BROTHERS

iSogth

Skin Game

SETS AN UNPRECEDENTED EXAMPLE FOR
THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY

CONGRATULATIONS!

Hector Ross, Frank Kettner, Doug Isman

and staff

THEATRE AGENCIES LIMITED

CANFILM SCREEN SERVICE LIMITED

CALGARY
VANCOUVER WINNIPEG

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

N.F.B. ANNOUNCES
MAJOR APPOINTMENTS

Mr. Sydney Newman, Government
Film Commissioner has announced four
recent major appointments at the top
level of the National Film Board of
Canada.

Mr. Pierre Gauvreau was named Di-
rector of French Production and An-
tonio VielFaure was appointed Director
of Distribution. Already in their new
posts are Bernard Devlin as head of
English production and C. Douglas
Ruppel, Director of the Financial and
Administrative Services Branch.

Mr. Newman also announced that
Wilfred S. Jobbins, present Director of
Distribution has been named the
N.F.B.’s European representative with
headquarters in London.

Rounding out his first year as head
of the N.F.B., Mr. Newman opined that
these appointments will provide the
Board “’With the kind of top leadership
that will shape our work in the upcom-
ing important years. Assistant Film
Commissioner André Lamy and | havea
top-flight team with us; one that will
reinforce the Board’s vital and pace-
setting role in the film world to do the
job for Canada we were created to do.”

f

— _ - a
PIERRE GAUVREAU

BERNARD DEVLIN

DOUGLAS RUPPEL

NG
ANTONIO VIELFAURE

WILFRED S. JOBBINS

VARIETY CONVENTION
CHAIRMEN NAMED

Messrs. Frank Yablans and Steve Ross,
general convention chairmen for the
45th Annual Variety Clubs Convention
to be held in New York City April
23-28, 1972 have announced the fol-
lowing committee chairmanships.

DREW EBERSON will serve as chair-
man of the Greetings and Welcoming
Committee.

PAUL LAZARUS has been named
to head the program committee, and
will be responsible for the planning of
programs and special events.

NAT LEFKOWITZ has accepted the
chairmanship of the Entertainment
Committee.

MRS. EUGENE PICKER will as-
sume the chairmanship of the Ladies’
Committee and will co-ordinate the
major activities of immediate appeal to
the lady registrants.

FRED GOLDBERG will act as
Chairman of the very important Pub-
licity Committee.

BERNARD MYERSON has taken
on the chairmanship of the Sponsorship
Committee and will devote his time to
seeking appropriate sponsorship for the
various activities and events being plan-
ned.

The convention will be headquar-
tered in the Americana Hotel in New
York City.

@

PAUL HANNER JOINS
CANADIAN THEATRES

Following a two month recuperation
after a serious illness combined with
major surgery, Paul WHanner, well-
known Industry publicist has joined
Mike Zahorchak’s Canadian Theatres
Group as head of their operations in
Calgary and Edmonton.

During the past three decades Paul
has been actively associated with Odeon
Theatres, Astral Films, Canadian
Theatres and Famous Players. After
leaving Famous, Paul became critically
ill, and on his recovery, re-joined Can-
adian Theatres, with offices in Calgary.

PHIL STONE ON
HUMBER COLLEGE
STAFF

A past Chief Barker of Variety Club
Tent No. 28, and former International
Variety Representative, Phil Stone who
had spent some 25 years in the com-
munications media, including 17 years
with CHUM, CBC Radio and T.V.
magazine publishing, editing and fea-
ture writing, has entered the academic
world.

Stone is now on the faculty of
Humber College in Toronto heading up
two departments. He is Director of
Radio Broadcasting, and Supervisor of
the Public Relations course. He is con-
tinuing his long-time entertainment
column for the Tribune chain of weekly
newspapers.

As a first step, Phil has instituted a
daily, 15-week program, MUSIC FROM
THE MOVIES, to be aired on the
College’s F.M. station.

ae

about PEOPLE

Henry Comor to Head
Toronto International
Film Studios.

International Film Studios

Toronto
are presently a beehive of activity with
the production of a new Canadian film
“MAHONEY’S ESTATE.” It is being
produced by John Ross and directed
by Harvey Hart. The cast includes—

Alexis Kanner, Maud Adams, Sam
Waterston and Diana LeBlanc.

Foreshadowing much greater in-
crease of activity is the announcement
by Mr. N. A. Taylor, president of the
studio company, of the appointment
of Henry Comor as general manager,
effective immediately.

Mr. Comor has been well known for
many years as a writer, actor and
director. The early years of his career
were spent in his native Britain where
he made several appearances on the
West End stage and in twelve feature
films. Coming to Canada in 1956, he
has won national and International
awards for his work with the CBC. He
was particularly noted for his Tele-
vision series “The Lively Arts’’ and his
long-running radio series “Hermit’s
Choice.”

Between 1964 and 1968 Mr. Comor
was National President of the Associa-
tion of Canadian Television and Radio
Artists, and won great acclaim for the
recognition by the Canadian Govern-
ment of the importance of increased
opportunity for Canadian writers and
performers. He has also been Vice-
President of the International Federa-
tion of Actors, Vice-President of the

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

International Writers’ Guild, Co-Chair-
man of the Council of Canadian Film
Organizations, and in 1968, National
Director of the Canadian Conference
of the Arts.

Married to actress Jill Showell, they
have three children and make their
home in Toronto.

In making the announcement, Mr.
Taylor expressed confidence that in
his new position, Mr. Comor would
combine his artistic and administrative
abilities with his well-known’ en-
thusiasm for Canada in the creation of
a flourishing centre for the production
of feature films, Television motion pic-
tures and T.V. series.

@

Ealinf and Noel Moore
Join Forces

Mr. J. W. Cosman, President of Ealinf
Scientific Ltd. of Dorval, Quebec, has
announced an association between his
company and Noel Moore Video Cas-
sette Productions of Almonte,
Ontario, for the purpose of producing
educational films and cassettes for dis-
tribution in the Canadian and Interna-
tional markets.

In making the announcement, Mr.
Cosman declared that this will give
Canadian Films an opportunity to
compete on equal terms with U.S. and
foreign films, as Ealing is considered
one of the world’s largest distributors
of short educational films, and as pio-
neers in that field have helped set the
standards for the entire industry.

Mr. Cosman, formerly head of dis-
tribution for the NFB, said that Can-
adian films can compete successfully
with the product of other countries,
especially in the documentary and
educational fields, as evidenced by the
well-earned reputation of Canadian
films at International film festivals,
but need access to an effective Interna-
tional distribution system.

Ealing, in association with Video
Cassette Productions, will seek to en-
courage educators in schools and uni-
versities to express themselves through
the medium of film, and later video-
tape, in order to develop a significant
bibliography of visual textbooks
geared to the requirements of educa-
tors and students alike.

MCA Inc. Elect New
Directors

Mr. Lew R. Wasserman, president of
MCA Inc., has announced the election
of the following as directors of the
company. Jules C. Stein, John E.
Drick, Louis B. Lundborg, Charles
Miller, Taft B. Schreiber, Charles B.
Thornton and Lew E. Wasserman.

At the Board of Directors’ meeting
which followed a meeting of stock-
holders, the following were elected as
officers of the company. Jules C.
Stein, Chairman of the Board... Lew
R. Wasserman, President and Chief
Executive Officer ... Bob R. Baker, J.
Eugene Brog, Salvatore Chiantia,
Albert A. Dorskind, Ralph C. Frank-
lin, Louis N. Friedland, Edd Henry,
John K. Maitland, Charles Miller,
Michael J. Rockford, Taft B.
Schreiber, Sidney J. Sheinberg and
Ned Tanen as Vice-Presidents...
Morris M. Schrier, Vice-President and
Secretary ... John W. Findlater, Vice-
President and Assistant-Secretary ...
Frederick E. Witt, Treasurer, and
Harold M. Haas, Comptroller.

°

DECEASED

HENRY FREDERICK THOMSON
erstwhile manager of the Paramount
theatre in New Westminster, B.C., who
recently retired, died at his home on
September 28 at the age of 75. ‘Tom-
my’ Thomson began his career with
Famous Players at the Capitol in Moose
Jaw in 1923, and managed several.
theatres for that company until his
retirement on December 15, 1969. He is
survived by his widow Lois Bernice.

MERLE WILSON, projectionist at the
Orpheum theatre in Vancouver passed
away suddenly on September 24th at
the age of 56. Mr. Wilson began his
employment with Famous Players in
December of 1963. He is survived by his
mother Mrs. Lillian E. Wilson.

GEORGE CRAIG LENNON, a projec-
tionist with Famous Players for many
years, passed away at his home on
October 12th, at the age of 83. He
started his career in the booth of the
Gerrard theatre in Toronto in 1945 and
retired on September 1st, 1958.

CONTINUING
SUCCESS
STORY
FROM

PARAMOUNT

NOVEMBER

Walter Slezak
Mark Lester
Directed by James Hill
Produced by
Peter Andrews

Malcom Heyworth

BLACK
BEAUTY

New production
of the immortal classic

NOVEMBER
pS

Thommy Berggren

Candice Bergen
Peter Boyle Directed and
produce
by Bo Widerberg

Directed by
Herbert Ross

Produced by J OF
Peter Hyams

1. R.
Bo Widerberg’s film
B f the
Country girl

takes on
Chicago.

American hero.

DECEMBER

DECEMBER™

Sandy Duncan
___ Bud Cort Tony Roberts
Directed by Hal Ashby Directed by Jerry Paris
Produced by
Howard W. Koch

Produced by
Colin Higgins

ha SPANGLED

AND MAUDE GIRL

Hilarious
May-D ber
AGRE: ‘ Neil Simon's
hit play.

Ruth Gordon

* selected engagements only

CONGRATULATIONS TO

WARNER BROS.

ON THEIR

Ue I(0 Lo Saar

Skin Game

NGC CINEMAS LTD.

Mm
Cc

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST 1

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | {/S(o](0)@iu | ‘SKIN GAME’

F.P. OPENS DUAL IN
NEW BELLEVILLE
MALL

A new, twin-auditorium, fully-auto-
mated theatre, which will be under the
direction of Century Theatre Manage-
ment Limited, made its bow at the
Quinte Mall in north Belleville on
August 18th. The two theatres will be
known as Cinema 1 and Cinema 2, with
seating capacities of 589 and 326 re-
spectively.

Royal blue and red are the basic
colours used throughout, and the seats
are the most modern available, stag-
gered for better viewing, and with lots
of leg room. The box-office is located
just off the main mall, completely open
and circular in shape. One cashier will
service both theatres.

It is anticipated that the new the-
atres will attract their patronage from
the area north of Belleville, and should
not affect the other two hard-top and
one Drive-In in the city.

The twin-theatre lounge will feature
a display of paintings by Belleville area
artists, and will be known simply as
‘The Gallery’. The paintings will be
changed periodically so that new dis-
plays are continually on display.

Manager of the new theatres is Stella
Culhane, who had managed the Belle
theatre since 1967, and prior to that
time was assistant to the late George
Forhan. The accompanying photo
shows a group of Century Management
and Famous Players officials at the
official opening.

NEX! Are U :
powERFUL NEW 1 M.G.M. CAPTURES NEW

BILLY JACK HONOURS

M.G.M‘s PETER RABBIT AND TALES
OF BEATRIX POTTER was awarded
three major honours at the recently
held. Moscow Film FEstival, including
the silver medal from the jury on
children’s films.

The Union of Soviet Artists also
acclaimed it as the most artistic produc-
tion at the Festival, for which set and
costume designer Christine Edzard re-
ceived a special award.

The film was directed by Reginald
Mills from a screen adaptation by

Recommended os
anvil ENTERTAINMENT

+--+ -— - - a : . * re
At opening of Quinte Mall Dual Auditorium from the left, Mr. Richard Kressin; Mr. M. L. Axler; aaa d Goodwin and Christine

Mrs. Stella Culhane, Manageress; Mr. N. A. Taylor; Mr. J.S. Kurk and Mr. N. Martin Simpson.

12

YORKTON
INTERNATIONAL FILM
FESTIVAL

The Yorkton International Film Festi-
val, North America’s oldest continuing
festival of its kind, will be held this year
during the week of October 18th. One
of the three major festivals of its kind in
the world, the Yorkton Festival is
ranked by those in the know with the
festivals in Cannes and Edinburgh.

The first Yorkton Festival was held
in October, 1950, as a project of the
five-year-old Yorkton Film Council.
This was the first Festival of its kind to
be held in North America, and received
sixty documentary entries from em-
bassies and film makers the world over.
Interest, nationally and internationally
has continued at a high level throughout
the years, with entries averaging around
100 films each year. Entries have been
received from Japan, Germany, Aus-
tralia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia,
France, South Africa, Norway, Den-
mark, The U.S.S.R., Poland, Great
Britain, The U.S. and Canada.

In 1970 the Yorkton Film Council,
originators and operators of the Festival
over the years, was reorganized, and is
now known as the Yorkton Interna-
tional Film Festival. Mrs. W. Allen
Bailey, wife of the mayor of Yorkton
has been elected as chairman of the
1971 event.

Most emphasis is placed on the
standards of adjudication. In 1969 the
adjudicators were, Eva Langbord,
Talent Development and Liaison Of-
ficer for the C.B.C., Mr. Guy Beaulne,
Director General of Theatre and Drama
Conservatories for the Province of
Quebec, and Satindar Kumar, film col-
umnist with the Indian Express in
Delhi, India. The Saskatchewan Arts
Board, recognizing the importance of
the Festival, assisted with the selection
of the adjudicators and provided funds
for their travel and fees. An additional
feature of the ‘69 Festival was the
public screening of the Canadian Film
Award winners in their only appearance
in that part of the country.

As the only continuing Festival of its
kind on the continent, the Yorkton
International Film Festival holds a
unique position in promoting the film

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

industry in Canada, both as an op-
portunity for local producers to ex-
hibit, and as a challenge for them to
compete in the international market.
The Festival also serves as an educa-
tional exhibit, provides one of the few
opportunities to view foreign films
there, and in general is a great asset to
film promotion and the Canadian film
industry as a whole.

JERRY LEWIS CINEMAS

ON CANADIAN SCENE

The first of a proposed 200 Jerry Lewis
Cinemas across Canada will make its
bow in mid-October in Mississauga,
Ontario. This first unit will be operated
by franchise holders Al Parker and Bill
Poinpon. This will be a_ single-
auditorium seating 375.

The second theatre, a back-to-back
dual seating 350 in each auditorium is
rapidly nearing completion in Hespeler,
and is slated for opening in mid-
November. Lad Medve and Larry
LeBlanc of Multiple Automated Cine-
mas, area directors for Ontario of the
Jerry Lewis Cinemas will operate.

All theatres built by the Jerry Lewis
group will maintain a policy of exhibit-
ing only those pictures with a General
Audience rating, and admission prices
have been fixed at $1.50 for adults and
50 cents for children at all times.

oO

THE LAST MOVIE WINS
IN VENICE

Dennis Hopper’s latest film, THE LAST
MOVIE, was awarded a special prize as
Best Film at the recently concluded
32nd International Venice Film Festi-
val. The award was presented by the
C.1.D.A.L.C. (International committee
of Cinema Arts and Letters) which is
represented by critics and journalists of
France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, India,
Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.

THE LAST MOVIE, an Alta-Light
production for Universal was directed
by Hopper who also stars, and co-wrote
the original story on which the screen-
play is based.

JACK HEWSON
HONOURED IN OTTAWA

At a recent party held at the National
Library in Ottawa, Jack Hewson, long-
time member of Local 257 of the
1.A.T.S.E. was presented with a life
membership in the local by the secre-
tary Murray Hall. Keeping an eye on the
proceedings were International Vice-
President A.L. (Pat) Travers, Business
Agent Jack Harris and Vice-President of
the local Gerry Gravelle.

In addition to being guest of honour
at the midnight luncheon, Mr. Hewson
was presented with a handsome gift for
his home. Jack Hewson had been ser-
vicing theatres in the Ottawa area for
some 42 years prior to his retirement.

13

SYDNEY NEWMAN

A Soliloquy

WITH NFB UNDERTONES
“One day at lunch, John Grierson told
me this story from his childhood: He
had been up to some mischief in an
austere public school somewhere in
Scotland, and was admonished for it
by the stern professor: ‘‘Don’t you
think you are impertinent my boy?”
he was asked. ‘’Yes sir.’’ answered
young Grierson. “Stick to it, my boy,
stick to it!’ was the professor’s reply.
“Don’t ever lose it.” Years later Grier-
son said to me, ““Newman, you have a
‘B’ picture mentality.” | have stuck
with it ever since.”’

“It was mostly because | was an
advocate of the Grierson ‘theology’ for
getting films to people that ! left the
Film Board and turned to Television
with all its audience values, rating
systems, costs and marketing side of
public entertainment.”

“Last year | returned to the Nation-
al Film Board as its Commissioner.
The gawky, talented and enthusiastic
fledgling | hand known had become a
huge, sophisticated and complex place.
So much had happened. A private film
industry was growing up. The NFB
was thrashing around trying to find its
place in the midst of the confusion
and government austerity. Private pro-
ducers were screaming at Mother Film
Board with anguished cries of criti-
cism, knowing full well that the solu-
tion was either for us to offer to close
up shop or as an alternative, give them
most of our work. And yet, 70% of
the top people on the production and
technical side of Canada’s private film
industry are ex Film Boarders. The
CFDC was spawned by Guy Roberge,

14

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | {]&5[0)(o}3

then NFB Film Commissioner, and ex
NFB Michael Spencer who is executive
Director of CFDC today. Wouldn’t the
guys in the know really claim that
without the Film Board there
wouldn't be a private film industry in
Canada today, and wouldn’t they all
admit how necessary it was for Canada
to have such an industry? And just
because of that, the NFB is more
essential to our country than ever. Our
technical standards are second to
none. We can experiment and innovate
in a way no private company ever
could, or would want to, and we can
spill our talent and experience over
into the private sector and have Can-
ada make a real mark in the cinemato-
graphic world.”

“This year at Cannes some forty
Canadian features were shown. Not
bad for a country that couldn’t claim
more than being tops in documentaries
a few short years ago. And, many of
the films shown at Cannes were NFB
productions. All of them may not have
the showbiz flair that Harvey Harnick
used to find lacking in the old days
when he put the fear of God into NFB
producers. But, they are still a far cry
from the ‘Waving Wheatfields’ which
used to lull him to sleep.”’

“The Film board doesn’t win over
70 awards and citations each year
around the world for no reason.”

“*The NFB production MON
ONCLE ANTOINE was shown at
Cannes, It is a new feature by Claude
Jutra who has directed a wide variety
of films in the past 20 years, acting in
some of them as well. His last feature
was WOW in 1969, which enjoyed
tremendous popularity in French Can-

ada. MON ONCLE ANTOINE is set in °

a small Quebec village. Visually it is
extraordinarily beautiful, and it con-
veys the unique ambiance of Quebec
as few films have. It doesn’t belabour
it, it simply lets it happen. The story is
about a teenage boy whose curiosity
about life leads him to discover some-
thing about sex, both virginal and
worldly, about life and about death.
His Oncle Antoine is running the
town’s general store as well as being
the local funeral director. It’s the story

of a Quebec family, but it’s every-
body’s story, in a way.”

“Also shown at Cannes was the
NFB documentary A MATTER OF
FAT. Who but the Canadians would be
so conscientiously concerned with one
of the problems of the affluent society
— Overweight? A MATTER OF FAT

tells the true and incredible story
about a guy who loses more weight
than his wife weighs. He is a natural
actor and a most loveable fellow. The
film is a funny and informative look at
obesity. It shatters a lot of popular
myths about losing weight, and comes
up with some genuinely constructive
suggestions.””

“COLD JOURNEY” is another
NFB film presently in production for
theatrical distribution. The dramatic
story revolves around a 15-year old
Indian boy and the attempt to turn
him into a Canadian. It pinpoints the
ironies of our educational system and
some of the human dilemmas of our
country.”

“My plans for the future? For a
start, an agreement has been reached
with the CBC to put 13 one-hour NFB
productions on the National Network
this coming year. For the rest, we shall
continue to be the pace-setters for
anything that’s audio-visual. We shall
continue to make the kind of films we
believe in, while hoping that they will
earn their place in the market place.
We shall try to inject a certain vulgar
energy into our films — a showbiz flair
to excite popular audiences. We want
to increase the size of our audiences
and to that end we are hoping to
produce much more exciting theatrical
shorts in the future. We want to
provide audiences with that extra zest
that comes from a good accompanying
short. We believe that the Canadian
public wants to counter the American
opinion which floods our media, with
Canadian productions which are ex-
citing and have something tangible to
say.”

“And, | almost forgot... we shall
vastly increase contracts to private
film makers and production com-
panies.”

“Waving Wheatfields anyone?”

COVER STORY

The four Warner brothers began their rise to
Hollywood eminence in the early 1900's.
Photo shows them in the 20's as heads of
their own flourishing studio. L. tor., Harry,
Jack, Sam and Albert Warner.

A Polish immigrant, Benjamin Warner
brought his family to the U.S. in 1888
and settled in Youngstown. The thrée
eldest boys, Harry, Sam and Albert
moved to Pittsburgh, bought a print of
THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, and
thus the Warner Bros. legend was born.

In 1908 they opened a theatre in
Newcastle, Pa., in 1910 entered the film
rental business, and in 1912 began to
make movies. Between 1928 and 1939
the Warners never made fewer than 50
pictures a year, and by 1929 they were
responsible for the greatest revolution
in movie making—sound, and produced
the first all-talking movie, THE
LIGHTS OF NEW YORK, followed by
Jolson’s all-singing, all-talking master-
piece, THE SINGING FOOL.

In 1967 Warner Bros. was amalga-
mated with Seven Arts, and Jack L.
Warner became an independent pro-
ducer. Then, in 1969 the new company
was acquired by Kinney National Ser-
vice which returned it to its original
identity.

In 1971 Warner Bros. reached the
Apex of their ambitions... another
first in the industry. With the release of
SKIN GAME, they were the first major
production company to reach a total of
1500 motion pictures, and they’re still
going strong.

We of the Canadian Film Digest are
happy to join the rest of the industry in
saluting this pioneering company on
this great accomplishment, and look
forward to many more Warner Bros.
B.O. hits in the future.

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | (Su\ujem

KINNEY ACQUIRES
WARNER BROS. IN
1969

Kinney National Services, one of the
top-flight conglomerates in the U.S.
acquired Warner Bros.—Seven Arts in
1969 and changed the company back to
its original corporate name—Warner
Bros. Kinney appointed Ted Ashley to
the post of corporate leadership.

Mr. Ashley came to his new position
with an enviable reputation as head of a
talent agency, and immediately put his
vast talents to the test by not re-
organizing, but building on to the struc-
ture created by the original Warners.

q “
TED ASHLEY

LEO GREENFIELD
Vice-President and
General Sales Manager

IRVING STERN
General Manager of
W. B. Canadian Operations

A GROUP OF PHOTOS FROM WARNER BROS. CLAS
gered | Ba ee a

gy? ;
Z ‘a 74 ) EW ‘
3 : rey : F 5 z : : hearses Ruby Keeler 1932: “! Am a Fugitive from a 1935: “Captain Blood” brought fame to Errol Flynn in
: Al Jol: 29: M. Carr and Cullen Landis in “Lights 1931: Edward G. Robinson was 1931: James Cagney as 1933 Warner Baxter re , g p g y
wee eee segrred) un be Wai Vork 7 first all-talking motion picture. “Little Caesar”’ “The Public Enemy.” for “42nd Street’ dance-number. Chain Gang” starred Pau! Muni. tale of swashbuckling pirates and high adventure.

»

n ‘ hk i Next :
’ oM nok ‘

Ds /' See : Ad ~~ z Be sv
Ses er iF QWs; é
1935: Leslie Howard and Bette Davis starred in screen 1937: “The Life of Emil Zola” 1938: Jezebel” raised Bette Davis 1939: “Each Dawn | Die” dealt with prison life, 1939: “Dark Victory” starred 1940: Anthony Quinn, Ann Sheridan and James Cagney in 1941: In “Sergeant York,”
version of “The Petrified Forest.” Paul Muni played Zola. to first rank of stardom. starred James Cagney and George Raft. Bette Davis and George Brent. “City for Conquest.” Gary Cooper.

. tr ) ‘,
OCP

j >
1943: Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid and 1943: John Garfield (left) was topline star of 1946: “The Big Sleep” starred Humphrey

i ; . ; 7 Tee aoa 1948: Walter Huston starred as gold- 1951: Vivian Leigh, Marlon 1955: “East of Eden” presented James Dean (right) forerunner of new
Ingrid Bergman starred in romantic spy thriller, “Casablanca, Air Force,” a tribute to airmen of World War II. Bogart and Lauren Bacall. miner in “Treasure of Sierra Madre.’ Brando starred in “Streetcar kind of screen personality appealing to new kind of movie fan.
Named Desire.”

ad :
‘i I Ptb Sivas ed = “ef vA an. ot i . ™
g- 1962: Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon starred in 1963: “Gypsy” starred Natalie 1964: Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn 1966: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton starred in 1967: Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty

pela tale of alcoholism, “Days of Wine and Wood in true story of show starred iN screen version of “My Fair Lady. the outspoken “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” portrayed the daring “Bonnie and Clyde.”
, business.

ing “Auntie Mame.”

16
CANADIAN FILM DIGEST :

CENTRE
PAGES

BEST FEATURE FILM

MON ONCLE
ANTOINE

Claude Jutra, Director
Marc Beaudet, Producer

Winner of eight awards

BEST DOCUMENTARY
OVER 30 MINUTES
LES PHILHARMONISTES

Yves Leduc, Director
Francois Séguillon, Producer

BEST DOCUMENTARY
UNDER 30 MINUTES
THE SEA

Bane Jovanovic, Director
Colin Low, Producer

BEST DIRECTION
(non-feature)
MIKE McKENNIREY

Atonement

BEST SOUND EDITING
SERGE BEAUCHEMIN

Les Philharmonistes

THE NATIONAL FILM BOARD

OF CANADA

proudly salutes

its film-makers for winning
an unprecedented 19 Etrogs
at Canadian Film Awards 1971

BEST DIRECTION
CLAUDE JUTRA

BEST SCREENPLAY
CLEMENT PERRON

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
MICHEL BRAULT

BEST MUSICAL SCORE
JEAN COUSINEAU

BEST THEATRICAL SHORT
DON'T KNOCK THE OX

Tony lanzelo, Director
William Canning, Producer

BEST ANIMATION FILM

EVOLUTION
Mike Mills, Director & Producer

BEST SCREENPLAY (fiction)
DON ARIOLI

Propaganda Message
Hot Stuff

BEST NON-DRAMATIC
SCREENPLAY
CLAUDE PELOQUIN

L’homme nouveau

BEST RE-RECORDING
ROGER LAMOUREUX

BEST ACTOR
JEAN DUCEPPE

BEST SUPPORTING
ACTRESS
OLIVETTE THIBAULT

BEST NATURE &
WILDLIFE FILM
TEMPLES OF TIME

William Canning, Director

BEST SPORTS &
RECREATION FILM
SKI DE FOND

Roger Rochat, Director
Francois Séguillon, Producer

BEST COLOR
CINEMATOGRAPHY

BILL MASON
Death of a Legend

¥

National Office
Film Board national du film
of Canada du Canada

TO START PRODUCTION

20TH CENTURY-FOX has announced
that production will start in December
on CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF
THE APES, the fourth venture based on
Pierre Boulle’s characters. Paul Dehn
has been signed to write the screenplay
from his own original story.

Slated for a November 15th starting
date is CHRISTMAS COUPLE, a come-
dy written by Academy Award winner
Stanley Shapiro who will serve as Exec-
utive Producer with Pat Rooney as
Producer. Casting has not yet been
completed.

Another from Fox is DIME BOX
scheduled to start production in mid-
November. Marvin Schwartz will pro-
duce, and James Frawley direct. Dennis
Hopper has been signed to star.

M.G.M. has announced three prop-
erties for early production. EVERY
LITTLE CROOK AND NANNY will
begin shooting shortly in Los Angeles
and Italy. This Cy Howard-Leonard
Ackerman production will star Lynn
Redgrave, Victor Mature and Dom
DeLuise. Screenplay is by Howard and
Robert Klane, based on the Evan
Hunter novel.

James Coburn and Jennifer O’Neal
have been signed to star in A CASE OF
NEED, a Blake Edwards-William Be-
lasco production which will be shot on
location in and around Boston and on
the M.G.M. lot. Belasco is producing
with Edwards directing.

Jill St. John and Oliver Reed have
been signed to star in SITTING TAR-
GET, from ascreenplay by Alex Jacobs.
Barry Kulick will produce and Douglas
Hickox direct. Filming later this fall in
and around London.

WARNER'S have three ready to roll.
THE NAKED FACE, from Sidney Shel-
don Productions is a mystery drama
which will be directed by William Fried-
kin. Sheldon will produce from his
screen adaptation based on his own
best-selling novel.

International folk-singer Donovan
will script, score, star and sing in an as
yet untitled film that will combine
animation with live-action sequences.

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | (\(0)(c)@a | ‘SKIN GAME’

Executive producer will be graphic arts
designer Sid Maurer, with British artist
Patrick supe vising the production de-
sign.

Paul Wendkos will produce and dir-
ect THE ORGANIZATION, tentatively
scheduled to go before the cameras
early next year on location in San
Francisco, San Diego and Chicago. Har-
ry Klenier is currently working on the
screenplay based on the novel by David
Anthony.

UNITED ARTISTS have started pre-
liminary shooting on the Filmways-
Javelin production FUZZ, starring Yul
Brynner, Raquel Welch and Burt
Reynolds. Production has been moved
from New York to California due to the
difficulty of arriving at an agreement
with the New York local of the
|.A.T.S.E. Jack Farren will produce the
film based on Evan Hunter's screenplay,
with Edward S. Feldman as Executive
Producer.

Arthur Hiller has been signed to
produce and direct MAN OF LA
MANCHA, scheduled to go before the
cameras in Italy early in 1972. Peter
O'Toole and Sophia Loren will star.

Aaron Spelling Productions has set
production of COUPLES, based on
John Updike’s best-selling novel for
early 1972. Robert Mirisch and Aaron
Spelling will co-produce.

UNIVERSAL has EARTHQUAKE,
or EARTHQUAKE 1980, which is be-
ing scripted by Mario Puzo, author of
both the novel and screen adaptation of
THE GODFATHER. John Sturges will
direct and Sidney Beckerman will pro-
duce.

SINOLA will be produced by the
Malpaso Company, with shooting set
for November on location in Arizona
and California. This is an original story
by Elmore Leonard, author of the novel
on which HOMBRE was based. Clint
Eastwood will star, Sidney Beckerman
will produce and John Sturges will
direct.

COLUMBIA has three coming up.
THE STUNT MAN, initial joint-produc-
tion from William Castle and Richard
Rush from ascreenplay by Lawrence B.
Marcus based on the novel by Paul

Brodeur. Castle is Executive Producer,
and Rush will produce and direct.

THE NEW CENTURIONS will be
produced by Irwin Winkler and Robert
Chartoff, from a screenplay by Stirling
Silliphant based on the best-selling
novel by Joseph Wambaugh. Richard
Fleischer will direct. Stars are George C.
Scott, Stacy Keach and Vane AIl-
exander.

Joseph T. Naar will produce A
DYNASTY OF WESTERN OUTLAWS,
FROM A SCREENPLAY BY John Gay
based on the novel by Paul Wellman.
Academy Award winner Frankoin J.
Schaffner will direst

IN PRODUCTION

20th CENTURY-FOX has three before
the cameras. THE OTHER, starring
Broadway star Uta Hagen, Diana
Muldaur and Lou Frizzell is filming in
California, with Robert Mulligan pro-
ducing and directing, and Thomas
Tryon acting as Executive Producer.
Screenplay is by Tryon based on his
own best-selling novel.

Currently filming on location in
Austria is THE SALZBURG CONNEC-
TION, starring Barry Newman and
Anna Karina. Ingo Preminger is pro-
ducer and Lee H. Katzin is directing.
Screenplay by Oscar Millard based on
the novel by Helen MaclInnes.

WHEN THE LEGENDS DIE is now
being filmed on location in the North
-west U.S. and stars Richard Widmark.
Producer-Director is Stuart Millar.
Screenplay is by Robert Dozier.

WARNER BROS. has WHAT’S UP,
DOC? before the cameras at the Warner
studios in California, following comple-
tion of preliminary location shooting in
San Francisco. Sharing starring roles are
Barbra Streisand and Ryan O‘Neal.
Peter Bogdanovich is producing and
directing from a screenplay by Buck
Henry.

COLUMBIA have two nearing com-
pletion. BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE is
filming in Hollywood and New York,
with Mike Frankovich producing. The
picture stars Goldie Hawn and Edward
Albert, and is being directed by Milton
Katselas.

19

PRODUCTION SCENE
cont'd.

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED, a
comedy on Women’s Lib. is filming in
Denver and Hollywood, with Jackie
Cooper making his directorial debut.
Stars are Jacqueline Bisset, Stella
Stevens, Steve Lawrence and Gary
Lockwood. Original screenplay is by
Bernard Slade.

UNIVERSAL is readying FRENZY
which is currently shooting at Pine-
wood Studios and in London. Stars are
Jon Finch, Barry Foster, Anna Massey,
Vivien Merchant, Bernard Cribbins,
Alec McGowan and Billie Whitelaw.
Alfred Hitchcock is directing from a
screenplay by Anthony Shaffer based
ona novel by Arthur LaBern.

UNITED ARTISTS is currently film-
ing HICKEY & BOGGS in Hollywood.
Stars are Robert Culp and Bill Cosby.
Fouad Said is producing and Robert
Culp directing from an original screen-
play by Walter Hill.

IN THE CAN AND READY
FOR DATING

20TH CENTURY-FOX have ready for
release HOT ROCK, a Hal Landers-
Bobby Robert production directed by
Peter Yates. The picture stars Robert
Redford, George Segal, Zero Mostel and
Moses Gunn. Screenplay by William
Goldman based on the best-seller by
Donald E. Westlake.

Another one from Fox is WE
POINTED ‘EM NORTH, the Dick
Richards-Paul Helmick production. Dir-
ected by Richards from Eric Bercovici’s
screenplay.

UNITED ARTISTS has completed
filming on DIAMONDS ARE FOR-
EVER, which stars Sean Connery with
Jill St. John, Lana Wood, Jimmy Dean
and Bruce Cabot. This is the seventh
James Bond film turned out by U.A.
Screenplay is by Tom Mankiewicz and
Richard Maibaum. Producers are Albert
R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and
director Guy Hamilton.

Another from U.A. is THE RULING
CLASS, a comedy starring Peter
O'Toole, Alastair Sim and Arthur
Lowe. Jules Buck and Jack Hawkins
Produced and Peter Medak directed.
The picture was filmed in Lincolnshire,
Surrey, Buckinghamshire and London.

20

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | {JS(0|o)|Ga | ‘SKIN GAME’

CHARLES MOSES INTO
PRODUCTION

Well-known trade publicist Charles
Moses has announced his entry into the
production field with his acquisition of
Walter Wager’s SLEDGEHAMMER and
Edwin Corle’s FIG TREE JOHN. Both
films will be made in partnership with
distribution executive George Roth.

A deal is under negotiation on
SLEDGEHAMMER with Aaron Spel-
ling and ABC-TV as a 90-minute
spinoff, but Mr. Moses has made it clear
that he is also discussing the possibility
of developing it as a commercial fea-
ture, with a top director and a major

CHARLES MOSES

UNIVERSAL TO ADD
FIVE

Mr. Lew R. Wasserman, president of
M.C.A. Inc. has announced that Uni-
versal Pictures will produce five addi-
tional films in the U.S. within the next
twelve months. This move is a direct
result of the recent Internal Revenue
Service ruling which will reduce the
burden of prepayment of income tax on
estimated future T.V. income which
was previously required.

Mr. Wasserman pointed out that the
move represents the present adminis-
traton’s acknowledgment that the mo-
tion picture industry present adminis-
tration’s acknowledgment that the
motion picture industry has recom-
mended to the House Ways and Means
committee additional motion picture
industry financial relief as a step con-
sistent with its job incentive program. If
the Treasury Department’s recom-
mendations are accepted, Mr. Wasser-
man stated that Universal would pro-
ceed with an additional five features.

DISNEY PLANNING NBC-
TV SPECIAL

In a joint statement by Walt Disney
Productions and the NBC-TV network
plans were revealed for a 90-minute
prime-time special based on the late
October opening dedication of the Walt
Disney World in Florida.

The program will star Julie Andrews,
Glen Campbell, Jonathan Winters and
Buddy Hackett plus other top Holly-
wood stars. Bob Hope will offer a
special tribute to the late Walt Disney.

Over 50 guest personalities and their
families have been invited to the open-
ing. There will be lavish musical num-
bers choreographed by Dee Dee Wood,
comedy vignettes, a fantasy of fire-
works and dancing water and light
shows, and naturally, a climactic Main
Street pageant complete with all the
Disney costume characters.

Proposed date for this spectacular is
Friday evening, October 29th.

@

ANGLO EMI OPENS U.S.
OFFICE

Mr. Nat Cohen, Chairman and Chief
Executive has announced that ANGLO
EMI Film Distributors Limited have
opened their first-ever American office
to be headed by Gary Dartnell who has
had extensive experience in the U.S.
film market.

Mr. Dartnell will be located in New
York, and from there will supervise the
distribution of ANGLO EMI productin
the U.S. and Canada, as well as repre-
senting the company’s wider interests in
the North American market. His activi-
ties will also include the acquisition of
American product for the U.K. market.

e

CATLOW TO BE AIRED
ON BBC-TV

An hour-long T.V. special on the film-
ing of M.G.M.’s CATLOW in Almeria,
Spain, was aired throughout Britain on
BBC-TV on October 16th. The docu-
mentary includes interviews with Yul
Brynner, Richard Crenna, Leonard
Nimoy, Jo Ann Pflug and Jeff Corey.

CATLOW which also stars Daliah
Lavi is based on Louis L’Amour’s best-
selling Western novel of the same name.
Scot Finch and J. J. Griffith wrote the
screenplay which was photographed in
Panavision and Metrocolour.

ATERLOU

a WW “EVERYONES LIFE

vita THERE IS A
wil S SUMMER OF FORTY TWO

A TONG LONG LINE
FROM WARNER BROS.!

The Showmen at

PREMIER OPERATING CORP.
and THEATRE HOLDING CORP.
extend warmest congratulations

to WARNER BROTHERS
on the release of their
1500th MOTION PICTURE

— SKIN GAME’.

That's a long line of hits — and
we re looking for a long line-up to come!

QUEBEC THEATRE
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
APPOINTMENT

The directors of L’Association des Pro-
prietaires des Cinemas du Quebec has
announced the appointment of Mr.
Jean-Paul Ringuette as president of that
organization.

Mr. Ringuette, a native of Louise-
ville, Que. brings many years of ex-
perience in the motion picture industry
to his new post.

In 1932 his father and he pioneered
talking pictures in Louiseville. In 1940
Mr. Ringuette joined Leo Choquette’s
theatre group where he rose to the
position of Vice-President, which post
he still retains.

JEAN-PAUL RINGUETTE
©

SILENT FRIENDS TO
GIJON

Paul Fritz-Nemeth, Executive Producer
and Managing Director of Paridel Pro-
ductions Inc. of Toronto, has an-
nounced that SILENT FRIENDS will
be presented at the Gijon International
Festival for Children’s Films, and the
Teheran International Festival for Chil-
dren.

SILENT FRIENDS a Canadian-
Rumanian co-production was written
and directed by Paul Ftiz-Nemeth.
Cinamatographer was STefan Horvath,
and directed by Paul Fritz-Nemeth.
Cinamatographer was Stefan Horvath,

The Gijon Festival is held in Spain,
and the Teheran Festival in Iran.

22

THE STORY OF WOMPI

A few weeks ago WOMPI held its 18th
International Convention, in Toronto,
which culminated in a grand banquet at
the Royal York Hotel on Saturday
night, September 11th. It is fitting that
at this time we trace the history of this
organization and its accomplishments.

In 1954 a group of girls who worked
on Film Row in Dallas, Texas, met
frequently for lunch. Somebody sug-
gested that they band together as aclub
and work in community projects and
also in the interest of their Industry.
This they proceeded to do and found it
so satisfying and successful that they
contacted other Film Exchange centres
throughout the U.S. with a view to
forming a National club.

In 1955, the women of the Industry
in Toronto were invited to join, which
they did under the leadership of Ann
Kaplan of Paramount. This made
WOMPI an International organization.
One stipulation of membership is that a
club can only be formed in an ‘Ex-
change City’, that is a city in which
there are film exchange offices. There
are now clubs in 17 cities with a total
membership slightly in excess of 800.

Each September WOMPI hold an
International convention, alternating
between their various member cities.
This year it was held in Toronto. Here
they discuss their work over the past
year and lay plans for future projects.
This applies generally to the various
individual communities where they
Operate, but the majority of clubs also
support a needy child in other countries
through the ‘Save the Children’ organi-
zations.

The Toronto WOMPI have em-
barked, successfully, on a variety of
projects since inauguration. As ex-
amples, they took on a crippled child,
provided her with necessary braces and
sent her to camp. They have given

(hh)

MOTION
PicTuRa

numerous concerts at 999 Queen St. W.,
arranged for film showings at the So-
ciety for Paraplegics (Lyndhurst
Lodge), sent out dozens of Christmas
baskets each year, supported needy
families in the industry, and have also
adopted an Italian child through the
Canadian Save the Children Fund. Dur-
ing the past three years they have
contributed a great deal of time and
effort to Laughlen Lodge and the Sec-
ond Mile Club, involving the Senior
Citizens of Toronto. The above is justa
capsule review of some of the Toronto
Club’s activities.

WOMPI International, as acombined
project, has equipped Centre at Saranac
Lake in New York State. This hospital is
dedicated to the treatment and research
of respiratory diseases, and is free of
charge to any member of the entertain-
ment industry and their immediate
familes. WOMPI also contribute much-
needed medical books to the hospital’s
families. WOMPI also contribute much-
needed medical books to the hospital’s
a cheque for $2,88.00 to Mr. Harvey
Harnick, Canadian representative of a
cheque for $2,800.00 to Mr. Harvey
Harnick, Canadian representative of
Vickie Knight and Betty Bellamy as
co-chairmen.

Pictorial highlights of the conven-
tion are reproduced on another page.

TOP LEFT: Irving Stern, Canadian G.M. of
Warner Bros. presents the annual award to the
club with the best attendance, to Elena
Vassar, president of the Hollywood-Los
Angeles club.

TOP RIGHT: Rita Hutchinson of New
York, WOMPI’s Will Rogers representative is
shown presenting a cheque to Harvey Har-
nick, Canadian G.M. for Columbia and repre-
sentative of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospi-
tal Committee. Hazel LeNoir of Kansas City,
outgoing president, looks on.

BOTTOM LEFT: Betty Bellamy of Warner
Bros., Hilly Koblich of Universal, both of
Toronto, join Karen Richards, V.P. of the
Hollywood-Los Angeles club and Master
Keith Simms of Washington at the ‘Country
Capers’ night at the Tam O'Shanter Golf and
Country Club.

CENTRE: Agroup of Toronto WOMPIs, left
to right . . . Kitty Fisher, Cay McDermott,
Florence Merlina, Irene Thomson and Mary
Colangelo.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Vickie Knight, left, vice-
president of the Toronto club joins Toronto
president Betty Bellamy and Husband George
at the welcoming cocktail party. Vickie and
Betty co-chaired the convention under chair-
man Florence Long.

23

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

WE SALUTE

WARNER BROS.

ON THEIR

SO Oe

Skin Game

CANADIAN Mi THEATRES
GROUP

P.O. BOX 880 a ST. CATHARINES ° ONTARIO ° AREA CODE 416 682-7267

M. W. ZAHORCHAK, President

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | (]5(0)(0)@@ | ‘SKIN GAME’ |
ODEON’S NEW TWIN

DEBUTS IN HAMILTON

Odeon Theatres’ new, ultra-modern pig-
gy-back twin opened in Hamilton on
September 1st. This theatre is uniquely
decorated with three-dimensional su-
pergraphics including low intensity
light bulbs and reflective vinyls which
give it a most startling effect.

The new theatre is located in the
centre of downtown Hamilton and will
be managed by veteran Odeon staffer
Ralph Bartlett. Odeon One on the street
level seats 659, while Odeon Two above
the lobby contains 538 seats. The pub-
lic spaces are arranged in three tiers with
a special penetration so that all levels
are visible in relation to each other. The
overall effect is of considerably more
space than the fairly limited site pro-
vides.

Opening attractions were Universal’s
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN and Co-
lumbia’s THE LOVE MACHINE. A
number of Industry executives drove in
from Toronto including Columbia’s
Harvey Harnick and ‘Dutch’ Levitt,
Haskell Masters of Seven Arts, Ted
Hulse of 20th Century-Fox, George
Heiber from United Artists, Herb
Stewart and Bill Soady of MCA-Uni-
versal, Irving Stern and Phil Carlton
from Warner Bros. and Reg Wilson of
Prima Films.

The Odeon contingent headed by
Art Bahen was made up of, Bob Myers,
Harry Blumson, Charles Mason, Frank
Lawson, George Spratley, Bill Devitt
and Ken Reason.

NAC BOARD TO MEET
IN N.Y.

Officers and directors attending the
1971 convention of the N.A.C. at the
Americana Hotel in New York will
convene at the Association’s Fall Board
of Directors meeting on Sunday, Octo-
ber 24th. That same evening the direc-
tors will be joined by the members of
N.A.C. at a Presidential cocktail recep-
tion in the Warwick Hotel.

On Monday, October 25th, official
ribbon-cutting ceremonies will usher in
the opening of the 1971 Motion Picture
Theatre Equipment and Concessions
Industries Trade Show in Albert Hall,
the spacious exhibit centre on the lower

level of the Americana.
Several thousand delegates from the

three co-sponsoring organizations,
N.A.C., N.A.T.O. and T.E.A. are ex-
pected to be on hand.

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST 25

IT IS OUR PLEASURE
TO CONGRATULATE

WARNER BROS.

ON THEIR

Use

Skin Game

BARRY MYERS

PRAIRIE ALLIED BOOKING ASSOCIATION

WINNIPEG DIVISION
®

26

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | {S(o)a)caa

sh)

mcTUaS

THE CANADIAN FILM AWARDS

- o

Daryl F. Zanuck presenting BEST FEATURE award to Claude Jutra.

Climaxing a week of nearly continuous
screenings, winners in the Canadian
Film Awards annual competition re-
ceived their Etrogs at a glittering cere-
mony before a jam-packed crowd of
1,000 at the closing banquet and dance
in the Canadian Room of the Royal
York Hotel in Toronto on Friday eve-
ning, October 1st.

Chairman of the C.F.A. committee
was Robert C. Crone, and Executive
Director, Stan Helleur. The Interna-
tional jury, chaired by Gerald Pratley,
included Louise Bresky from Calgary,
Jean-Pierre Tadros, Montreal . . . Edgar
Anstey OBE, London, England...
Bosley Crowther from New York, Alex
North, Hollywood and Jiri Weiss from
Czechoslovakia. Darryl F. Zanuck flew
in from California to present the main
awards. Presentation co-hosts ‘were
Mile. Charlotte Gobeil of Ottawa and
Leslie Nielson from Hollywood.

BEST FEATURE FILM award was
presented to Claude Jutra for his direc-
tion of the NFB’s MON ONCLE AN-
TOINE, which captured eight of the
possible twelve awards, including Best
Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best
Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Cine-
matography, Best Sound Recording and
Best Recording. Darryl F. Zanuck in
making the presentation, commented,
“| have never at any Academy Awards
seen or felt the enthusiasm that exists
here tonight. You should be very proud
of your Industry”.

BEST ACTOR Jean Duceppe in MON

ONCLE ANTOINE.

BEST ACTRESS, Ann Knox in THE

ONLY THING YOU KNOW.

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR, Danny
Freedman, FORTUNE AND MEN’S
EYES.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS,
OLIVETTE THIBAULT, for MON
ONCLE ANTOINE.

BEST DIRECTION, Claude Jutra,
MON ONCLE ANTOINE.

BEST ART DIRECTION, Tiki-Tiki by
Peter Sander

BEST ANIMATED FILM, NFB’s EVO-
LUTION

BEST T.V. DRAMA FILM, THE ME-
GANTIC OUTLAW, C.B.C.

BEST DOCUMENTARY OVER 30
MINS., NFB’s LES FILHARMO-
NISTES

BEST EDUCATIONAL FILM, Chet-
wynd Films’ IT STARTS AT THE
TOP.

JOHN DRAINIE AWARD, for distin-
guished service to broadcasting, pre-

Government Film Commissioner Sydney Newman, right, and ass't. Commissioner André

Lamy, left, congratulate Claude Jutra.

sented by Fred Davis to Lister Sin-
clair, C.B.C. Radio and T.V. pro-
ducer.

BEST MUSICAL SCORE—Jean
Cousineau

BEST DOCUMENTARY UNDER 30
MINS. Bane Jovanovic—THE SEA

BEST THEATRICAL SHORT—Tony
lanzelo “DON’T KNOCK THE
OX”

BEST NATURE & WILDLIFE FILM
Wm. Canning—TEMPLE OF TIME

BEST SPORTS & RECREATION
FILM Roger Rochat—SKI DE
FOND

BEST DIRECTION (Non-Feature)
Mike McKennirey—ATONEMENT

BEST SOUND EDITING Serge
Beauchemin—LES PHILHAR-
MONISTES

BEST SCREENPLAY (Fiction) Don
Arioli—HOT STUFF

BEST NON-DRAMATIC SCREEN-
PLAY Claude Peloquin—L’HOMME
NOUVEAU

BEST COLOUR CINEMATO-
GRAPHY Bill Mason—DEATH OF
A LEGEND

BEST SCREENPLAY,

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY,
BEST RECORDING, and
BEST SOUND RECORDING,
to “MON ONCLE ANTOINE.”

Continued on Page 28

27

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | {/Sj(o)(o je

IMPORTANT AMPPLC FORUM IN MONTREAL

Friday, October 8th was a big day for
the private sector Canadian Film pro-
ducers. On that day, over 75 members
and guests of the Association of Mo-
tion Picture Producers and Labora-
tories of Canada met at the Queen
Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal for their
semi-annual meeting, under the chair-
manship of Mr. Arthur Chetwynd.
Immediately following an early
breakfast the meeting convened with
the most outstanding panel of experts
from the Canadian film and television
industry ever gathered in the private
film sector. On a bilingual panel mod-
erated by Mr. Henry Michard, Vice-
President of S.D.A. Ltée, Montreal
were, Mr. N. A. Taylor, President of
Century Theatres Management Ltd.,
and International Film Distributors
Ltd., Mr. Don Dixon, Sales Manager
Canadian Kodak, Toronto, Mr. Philip
Wedge, Director of Development, CTV
Network, Toronto, Mr. Don MacPher-
son, Director of Television, CBLT,
Toronto, Mr. Richard Ramsay, Super-
visor of Film Productions for Procter
and Gamble, Montreal, Mr. André
Lamothe, President of L’Association
des Producteurs de Film du Québec,
Mr. Ray Leger, Director of L’Office du
Film du Québec, Mr. Réal Benoit, La
Société Radio Canada, Mr. John Ross,
President of Robert Lawrence Produc-
tions, Toronto, Mr. Michael Spencer,
Executive Director Canadian Film
Development Corp., and Mr. Sydney
Newman, Chairman of the National
Film Board. The topic under discus-
sion was “‘Where is the Canadian film
business now, and where is it going’’?
Two of the most important state-
ments made at the meeting were by
Sydney Newman, NFB Chairman, who
said that he fully understood the prob-

re i im

28

— ——_—_———__

lems of the private film producer in
Canada, and expected that in 1971
approximately $800,000.00 worth of
film production would be contracted
out. He also said he hoped that by
1974 this figure would have increased
to $2,500,000.00.

Don MacPherson, Director of Tele-
vision for CBLT, opined that he also
hoped more of the CBC’s film work
would be let out to the private sector
in the future. If these things ultimately
come to pass, they will prove a tre-
mendous stimulus to the private film
sector.

At the luncheon which followed,
Canada’s most powerful Television in-
dustry spokesman, Pierre Juneau,
Chairman of the CRTC was the guest
speaker. It is doubtful if ever before,
T.V. Program, T.V. Commercial, Fea-
ture and Documentary film producers
across Canada had ever got together in
the same room for a lively give-and-
take with such notable panelists and
speakers.

The sessions closed with Associa-
tion members under the leadership of
Tom Glynn, V.P. Special Projects for
Crawley Films and current President
of AMPPLC, and John Ross, leading
an in-depth discussion about the work
of the Association, and recommending
a greatly increased membership drive,
to keep up with Canada’s burgeoning
private film industry, improvement of
services to the members, and increased
publicity.

The day was voted the most suc-
cessful and fruitful ever held by the
AMPPLC which is now in its 23rd
year. The next meeting of the Associa-
tion will be the Annual Meeting in
May, presently slated for Toronto.

FILM AWARDS (cont'd)

SPECIAL JURY AWARD for THE
ONLY THING YOU KNOW, to
Clarke Mackey for achievement in
first feature film.

SPECIAL JURY AWARD to Graeme
Ferguson for pioneering work in
giant-screen IMAX_ process in
NORTH OF SUPERIOR

BEST TV INFORMATION—PUBLIC
AFFAIRS FILM, accepted by Mur-
ray Chercover for C.T.V.’s THE
HUMAN JOURNEY—THE EARLY
YEARS

ORIGINAL MUSIC AWARD Alex
North, MON ONCLE ANTOINE

Leslie Nielson presents award to Tony
lanuzielo, director of DON’T KNOCK THE

Bill Canning receiving award for his
TEMPLES OF TIME

Yves Leduc receiving his award from Leslie
Nielson for his LES PHILHARMONISTES.

Bill Mason receiving award for Best Colour
Cinematography for his DEATH OF A
LEGEND.

YOU CAN COUNT ON THESE “LADIES”
TO DO IT FOR YOU IN A BIG WAY...

at the BOXt OME. /

you can meet them
for a price!

JENNIFER GAN JUDY BROWN - ROBERTA COLLINS - PAMELA nt
CiRIG SANTIAGO - DAVID OSTERHOUT & JIM WATKINS -JERRY deLEON -**"

sak caged their bodies 7
er not their desires %

Lie ROBERTA COLLINS - PAM GRIER
E MILLS - PAT WOODELL and SID HAIG

COLOR Be

SEDER ea oo

CANADIAN FILM DIGEST

Skyline Cinemas Open
in Toronto

A new, dual-auditorium theatre, Sky-
line Cinemas 1 and 2 had its official
opening in Toronto on Friday, Octo-
ber 15th. The new dual, operated by
20th Century Theatres Ltd., is a part
of the new addition to the Skyline
Hotel located at Highway 27 and
Dixon Road, just a stone’s throw from
the Toronto International Airport.

The theatre which is fully auto-
mated seats 300 in Cinema 1, and 400
in Cinema 2. Wayne Gebel, erstwhile
assistant manager of the Uptown Thea-
tre has been named manager of the
new twin cinemas.

At a pre-opening luncheon hosted
by Mr. N. A. Taylor for members of
the industry and local dignitaries, after
a few appropriate remarks Mr. Taylor
introduced Mr. William Hodgson,
President of Skyline Hotels Limited
who welcomed the guests and related
some of the events leading to the
development of the cinema concept as
part of the hotel’s entertainment
complex. It was of particular interest
to those who have been -around for
some time to learn that Harry Bailey
Jr. son of the late Harry Bailey who
for many years was Ontario General
Manager of Fox, is manager of the
Skyline Hotel in Toronto.

Incidentally, Jimmy Swadron who
has been a projectionist with Twinex
since 1942 is in charge of the booth at
the Cinemas. Photos of the twin-
cinemas will appear in the next issue
of the Digest.

Chicago Film Fest
Planned in November

The 7th Chicago International Film
Festival will be held this year from
November 5th to 20th inclusive. This
festival presents an opportunity to
view the work of new and unknown
directors, writers, cinematographers
and producers.

The competitive categories include
feature films, a special 60-second com-
petition and student productions. For
complete details interested parties may
contact The Chicago International
Film Festival, 12 East Grand Ave.,
Chicago 60611.

30

WE SALUTE WARNER BROTHERS ON THEIR | (So)(o)2wy

AMERICAN FILM
INSTITUTE BUDGETS
$2.9 MILLION

The AFI Board of Trustees has ap-
proved a budget of nearly three million
dollars for the fiscal year ending July 1,
1972. The trustees endorsed the recom-
mendation of director George Stevens
Jr. that the Institute maintain its work
in all major areas of film through
programs in film preservation and docu-
mentation, filmmaker grants, advanced
training and research, education and
film repertory showings. A major
achievement in film documentation is
the recently published American Film
Institute catalogue of Motion Pictures
produced in the U.S.—a 19 volume
series.

The Board alloted $80,000.00 for
national filmmakers grants, a two-fold
increase over fiscal 1971. These funds
will be allocated by the AFI to aid
independent filmmakers.

$125,000.00 was budgetted for the
education program. Of that, a grant of
$40,000.00 was set aside for establish-
ment of a national confederation of
film educators’ organizations, the goal
of which would be regional develop-
ment of in-service training programs
among film educators in secondary
schools. e

ANDY ROUSE TO
VERSAFOOD SERVICES

For many years general manager of
G.T.!. Drive-In Services, Mr. A. G.
Rouse has relinquished the position to
join Versafood Services as Director of
Purchasing. This re-unites him with an
old friend, Bill Emerson who left an
executive post with Pepsi-Cola earlier
this year to take on the presidency of

Versafood.
°

CAMP FILMS ACQUIRES
PLAZA PRODUCT

Mr. Richard Rosenberg, president of
Camp Films has announced his com-
pany’s acquisition of the Canadian dis-
tribution rights to the product of Plaza
Pictures of New York. Included in this
new group are DEAD OF SUMMER
with Jean Seberg, PIGEONS, starring
Jordan Christopher, DETECTIVE BEL-
LI, with Franco Nero, BATTLE OF EL
ALAMEIN with Michael Rennie, and
BLACK JESUS starring Woody Strode.

CLASSIFIED

DICTIONARIES
WEBSTER
Library size 1970 edition, brand
new, still in box. Cost new
$45.00.
(WILL SELL FOR $15)
Deduct 10% on orders of
6 or more.
MAIL TO

NORTH AMERICAN

LIQUIDATORS
58-158 2nd Ave. N. Dept 0-544

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

C.O.D. orders enclose $1.00 per
volume good will deposit. Pay
balance plus C.O.D. shipping on
delivery. Be satisfied on inspec-
tion or return within 10 days for
full refund. No dealers, each
volume specifically stamped not
for resale.

e@
16MM Film Fest in
Montreal

The Independent Filmmakers’ Co-
operative of Montreal which is the
Canadian centre for the distribution
and promotion of independently pro-
duced 16mm films has announced
plans for an International Festival of
Cinema in 16mm., to be held at the
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in late
October. The Cooperative organized
and financed this event with technical
assistance from the NFB.

Nearly fifty hours of film represent-
ing fourteen countries will be shown at
this first annual event, none of which
had been previously shown in Canada.
A main objective of the Festival is to
activate the interest of young film-
makers in Canada and at the same time
provide them with up-to-date informa-
tion on the latest developments in the
cinematic arts. The Festival is also
designed to unite representatives of
the medium with the public by becom-
ing a forum of exchange and debate.

The Montreal International 16mm.
Festival is a non-competitive, informa-
tional and cultural event. All films
presented will receive an official certi-
ficate of participation.

onthe release of their

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